Envelope moistener and sealer



July 20 ,1926. [1,593,358

' G. T. PRITCHARD v ENVELOPE MOISTENER AND 'SEALER Filed April 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eyl.

INVENTOR ATTORN IY eZ'fzeiie/tdld v ENVELOPE MQISTENER AND SEALER Filed April 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jlw.4.

INVEN'I'OR 2/ r Geo TPzz Zzzlzand gir -N 58 MAW I BY O W WM mm Patented July 20, 1926.

orr sn s'rarss GEORGE THOMAS PBITGHARD, OF NGRFOLK, VIRGINIA.

ENVELOPE MOISTENER AND SEALER.

Application filed April 22,1924. Serial No. 708,212.

ims invention ieiates to envelope moisteners and sealers.

The objectis to provide a simple, strong and durable device to be operated by hand, for moistening and sealing the flaps of envelopes of various sizes so as to expedite the operation of handling mail matter.

Another object is to provide a device for this purpose wiich may be cheaply manu factured and soldat a low cost, the device being formed principally of sheet metal stamped and bent into shape to provide means for engaging the flap of an inverted envelope, and directing the same up and over a moistened pad so as to moisten the adhesive-coated inner face only of the flap, the envelope proper being protected from such moisture, then directing said flap back onto the envelope again and bringing pressure to bar thereon to cause the moistened adhesive to adhere to the envelope and to seal the same, the entire operation being accomplished by a single stroke or passage of the device across the envelope in a longitudinal. direct-ion. I

Another object is to provide means for constantly supplying moisture to the said such means being in the form of a water container which may be readily dei inched for filling the same, and means con 'nected therewith for conducting the water by capillary attraction to the pad without leakage thereof, said pad being readily removable from the device for cleansing or renewal. f 1

A final object is to provide mean'sfor pressing the flap onto the moistening pad as the device slides over the envelope without danger of tearing the said flap, said'means being in the form of a presser toot detachabiy connected to the frame of the device, as to permit the removal of the said pad.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not to be confined to strict confornr ity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no mate 'ial departure from the salient features of the invention, spe cally poi ed out the appended claims,"

in the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device in the operation of moistening and sealing an envelope.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan View, partly in section, the presse'r tootbeing removed to more fully disclose the envelope flap.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the device, and illustrating the relation of the envelope flap thereto.

Figure 4: is a longitudinal sectional view of the device.

igure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 and looking in the-direction or" the arrows.

Figure 6 is a similar View taken: on the line 66 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a similar view taken on the line i otFigure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating the means for deflecting the envelope flap.

Reterring to the drawings there is shown a base member 1 which is formed of suitable sheet metal, preferably brass, so as to avoid corrosion or rusting. The base 1 is elongated, being substantially the shape of a large sized envelope, and is provided along each longitudinal side edge with an upstanding flange 2, formed by bending the metal,

said flange serving to stiffen or strengthen the base and prevent bending or buckling the same while in operation.

At each end, the base member 1 is bent upwardly and rounded as at 3 to permit the device to be drawn by hand lengthwise over the envelopes without danger of catching the ends of the same. The upturned ends 3 of the base have integrally formed, centrally disposed, upstanding arms at, arranged in longitudinal alinement with each other and suitably apertured for the reception of tas tening means for a handle 5, preferably formed of round wood and extending the full length of the base. The handle is. spaced above the base' member to be'readily grasped by the hand o fthe' operator without danger otthe fingers interfering with certain parts carried by the base. s

In sealing an envelope, as indicated at E in i Fig. 1 of the drawin the device is adapted to lie-placed near oneend thereot:

ant. arranged longitudinally of the same to be pa sed in that direction thereover, as indisa ed by the arrow in said figure. the ri hthand side edge of the base having the upturned flange 2 thereon preferably overlying the edge of the envelope having the flap connected thereto. and with said tlap lying flat upon the enve ope as in normal condition. The upturned and rounded front end 3 of the base thus serves to ride the said base over the edge at the envelope and the flap without drnger of catching on and tearing the same.

Somewhat in rear ol the trout end 3. the base 1 is provided with a diagonally disposed slot (i extending from a point adjacent to the lelthand reinforcing flange 2. rearvardly and across to a point between the central longitudinal line of the base and the righthand flange 2, where the metal of the base is cut away to provide a longitudinal opening 7. At the rear end this opening T communicates with a triangular. transverse slot 8. he rear edge of which is diagonally d weed to the base and opposite to the direction of the aforesaid slot 8. as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 2-3 ot the drawings. The metal of the base thus defined between the front slot ('3 and the. opening T and slot 8 is to med into a trout tongue 9 and a rear tongue 10 by means of a slot ll extending transverse y of the base and communicating with the. aforesaid opening 7. The tongues 9 and 10 each have tree end and are joined at the letthand side to the has The slot (5 preferably videus somewhat towards the tree end oi the tongue 9. and the forward. diagonal edge oi the latter is bent sligntly downward as at 12 to insure engagement beneath the llap ll of the enrelope when the device is passed over the latter as indicated. and lilcewise the rear diagonal edge of the slot 8 is provided with an upturned and curred flange 13 for the purpose of directing the said flap downwardly again. as will become apparent. For the pur} os of stitl'ening the base where pro vided with the several openings and slots. an upturned tango ll prorided at the outer or r'g'hthand ed ot'the longitudinal opening T. said. fie-r heir inclined and the flap 8.

rounded to prerent damagin r The rear tongue 10 is elevated slightly above the plane of the base 1 by transversely bendii the same where joined to said base as at 1.) and the rear edge oi the front tongue 9 is lik wise her up 'ardly through-- out its length to provide a peat. 16 For a purpose to be explained.

A pad 17. prete'ably torn'ied of felt, or some other suitable absorbent material, is mounted on the rear tongue 10 and extends from the ree end of the latter into abutting lation w th the left-hand reinforcing 2, the outer end of the pad being turned upwardly. at 18. and the said flange having an upwardly extended wall 19 to fit against said end 18 ot' the pad. lnterposed between the wall 19 and the end 18 of the pad is a thin sheet oi celluloid il or some other moisture proot material. which may be sewed or otherwise secured to the OIl 18 ot' the felt pad. and which is proto be slinped over the free end of the tongue. the uter P.1d opening T providing ample soace for such operation. The celluloid or other sheet 2} is somewhat wider than the supporting tongue and finds lodgment at the trout edge. in the aforesaid seat 16. and the lower face o'l' said sheet is substantially on a plane with the lower face of the base member 'l. by reason of the fact that the tongue 10 is bent upwardly. at 15. as before stated.

The rear end of the letthand stil'lening flange 2 is provided vith an inwardly directed stop linger preferably formed integrally therewith. and somewhat in advance of the same, the said flange is Further prorided with an overhanging. spring clip 23. also termed integrally therewith and disposed in the arc of a circle.

The clip 23 adapted to hold a small phial 2-} containing water. the closed end ol the same abutting against the stop linger and having at its front end a suitahlescrcw closure 25 adapted to permit filling the phial and also to prerent leakage when screwed thereon. The closure 1) is prorided with a su table opening for the entrance of a wick i'ti form d of suitable aljisorbent material. preferably 'l'elt. and having one end located the closed end of the phial. and the extending to and along the aforesaid l 19. and between the same and the a li'orel upturned end 13 of the pad 17. so that w L contained in the phial will lind its way. by capillary attraction. through the clt to the upturned end oi the pad. and hence throughout the latter to be applied substantially cover the pad 17 is adapted to hear at all tunes upon the same, the sa d till presser'foot being in the form of a plate and made of sheet metal similar to the base member, and having along 1ts lefthand edge an upturned wall or fiange'QE) which bears is joined to a forwardly and upwardly curved, spring arm 30 having at its end an integrally formed cross head 31, the lower edges of the extending portions of which are adapted to be seated in hooks 32 formed on the top edge of the upturned end 3 of the base, and at each side of the upstanding arm 4 at the front end of said base. The top edge of the cross head is adapted to be snapped or pressed beneath a pair of rear wardly extending lugs 33 formed on the side edges of'said arm 4, and when the said cross head is thus secured the downward tendency of the spring arm 30 serves to press the plate 28 against the pad 17 beneath the same with sufficient'forceto positively hold the flap F of the envelope in direct contact with the felt pad, and thus becomes thoroughly wetted or moistened during the passage of the same th ereover. V

lVith the pad secured in place on the tongue 10, and with the upturned end 18 of the pad held or clamped in close contact withth'e wick between the wall 19 of the base and the wall or flange 29 of the presser foot, the rear end of the wick being with in the container and the latter filled with water, the device is applied to the inverted envelope as before stated. The downward ly directed edge 12 of the tongue will be caused to engage the inclined edge of the flap F as the device ismoved forwardly by one hand ofthe operator, with the righthand edge of the device overhanging the top or flap edge of the 'envc'l-ope,while the latter is being held by the other hand of the operator. The flap is directed upwardly through the slot 6 as the device is moved, and passes beneath the presser foot 28 which holds the underside of the flap having the adhesive 7 thereon (see Figure 3) in close contact with said pad. The flap is then drawn down through the rear opening 8, the

advance portion 'of the rounded flange 13 thus directing the flap, and the rear flat portion of the base member 1 in sliding over the flap, which now lies upon the envelope, causes the same, under the pressure of the hand, to adhere to the envelope.

The device is especially useful where a large quantity of letters require m'oistening "and sealing, and in time great rapidity may be attained thus expediting and making easy, an otherwise unpleasant and. tuneconsuming operation. v

tearing the flap or wetting or damaging the envelope in any manner, the moisture being applied only where needed, and that with one movement of the hand, while the other hand holds the envelope, the entire operation is performed.

Vvhat is claimed is 1. An envelope moistener and'sealer, comprising a base, a handle supported above the base, means provided in the base for raising the flap of an envelope, a transversely disposed tongue on the base, a mois tening pad having moisture-proof material attached thereto and forming a pocket to be slipped over the free end of said tongue, said pad being adapted to be passed beneath the envelope flap, and pressing means located over the pad for engaging the flap and pressing the latter upon the pad as the device is drawn across the envelope.

2. An envelope moistener and sealer comprising an elongated base, a longitudinally disposed handle supported over the base and connected thereto, a transversely dis-- posed tongue formed integrally with the base and having its forward edge bent downwardly and adapted to engage beneath and lift the flap of an inverted envelope, a moistening pad carried by the base in rear of the tongue in a position to pass between the flap and the envelope as the device is drawn across the same to moisten said flap, a spring presser foot of a size and shape to substantially cover the pad and adapted to bear on the same for holding the flap onto the pad, and means for guiding the moistened flap onto the envelope and pressing the same thereon at the end of the stroke.

3; An envelope 'moistener and sealer adapted to be drawn across an inverted envelope, con'iprising a base, a handle secured to said base, spaced tongues formed in the base and arranged transversely thereof and each having a free end, one of said tongues having its free end depressed below the plane of the base and adapted to lift the flap of an envelope and dir ct the same over the other tongue, and a pad carried by the latter tongue for moistcning the adhesive on said flap.

l. An envelope moistener and sealer adapted to be drawn across an inverted envelope, comprising a base having its ends curved upwardly and terminating in up standing arms, a longitudinallydisposed handle secured to said arms, spaced tengues' formed in the base and arranged trans verselv thereof and each having a free end, one of said tongues having its free end depressed below the plane of the base and adapted to litt the tlap of an envelope and direct the same over the other tongue, and a pad carried by the latter tongue for mo stening the adhesive on said flap.

An envelope moistener and sealer adapted to be drawn across an inverted envelope. comprising a base having its ends curved upwardly and terminating in upstanding arms, a longitudinall disposed handle secured to said arms, spaced tongues formed in the base and arranged transvcrselv thereof and each having a tree end, one of said tongues having its tree end depressed below the plane of the base and adapted to lift the tiap of an envelope and direct the same over the other tongue. a pad arried by the latter tongue for moistcning the adhesive on said flap, means for supplying mois ure to the pad by capillary attraction. and a spring presser toot bearing on the pad to hold the said flap in contact therewith.

(i. A hand operated envelope inoistener and sealer comprising an elongated base, a handle mounted above the base for drawing the same longitudinall across an inverted envelope, said base having a pair of UZUISVCISGlf, disposed tongues intermediate its ends and formed integrally with the base. one of said tongues being adjacent to one end of the base and having its outer edge angularlv disposed and depressed to engage beneath the flap of the envelope and lift the same, the other tongue having a moistenmg pad mounted on the upper face thereof to contact with the adhesive on said nap. and means tor maintaining the pad in a moist condition.

7. A hand operated envelope moistener and sealer comprising an elongated base, a handle mounted above the base for drawing the same longitudinally across an inverted envelope, said base having a pair of transverselv disposed tongues intermediate its ends and tormed integrally with the base, one of said tongues being adjacent to one end of the base and having its outer edge angularlv disposed and depressed to engage beneath the tlap of the envelope and lift the same, the other tongue having a moistening pad mounted on the upper face thereof to contact with the adhesive on said flap, said pad beii adapted to slip onto the tree end of the supporting tongue and comprising an absorbentupper layer for moistening the flap and a 1narginallv-connected non-absorbent lower layer beneath the tongue to avoid moistemng the envelope, and means for maintaining the pad in a moist condition.

8. A hand operated envelope moistener and sealer comprising an elongated base, :1

versely c sposed tongues intermediate its ends and termed mtegrallv with the base,

one oi said tongues being adjacent to one end of the hire and having its outer edge angulariv disposed and depressed to engage beneath the flap ot' the envelope and tilt the ame, the other tongue having a 1noistoning pad mounted on the upper t'ace thereof to contact with the adhesive on said tlap. means for maintaining the pad in a moist condition, said pad having an upturned extension adjacent to one of the longitialinal edges oi the base, said edges having upturned llanges, an upstanding wall formed on the adjacent flange. an absorbent feeding wick bearing against the wall and contacting with the upturned extension of the pad, and means tor supplying moisture to the 'iititllllg' wick and through the same to the p: d.

51A hand operated envelope inoistener and sealer. comprising an elongated base, a handle mounted above the base for drawing the same longitudinally across an inverted envelope. said base having a pair of transversely disposed tongues intern'iediate its ends and formed integrally with the base. one ot said tongues being adjacent to one end of the base and having its outer edge angularlv disposed and depressed to engage beneath the flap of the envelope and hit the same, the other tongue having a moistening pad mounted on the upper face thereof to contact with the adhesive on said tlap. means for maintaining the pad in a moist condition, said pad having an u 'iturned e.\'teusion adjacent to one of the longitudinal edges of the base, said edges liaving upturned flanges. an upstanding wall 'toriued on the adjacent flange, an absorbent :t'ecding wick bearing against the wall and contact ing with the upturned extension of the pad, spring clips carried by said flange, a water container adapted to be sprung into the clips and to lie against the inner tace ot the flange, and a closure tor the container to prevent leakage and having an opening for the feeding wick to constantl suppl the pad with moisture.

10. A hand operated envelope moistener and sealer comprising an elongated base. an operating handle supported at its ends above the base, said base having rounded. upturned ends to facilitate passage longitudinally over an inverted envelope, a tongue projecting below the base to engage and lift the flap of the envelope, another tongue carried by the base, a pad supported on the upper face of the second tongue, means for supplying moisture to the pad, means for pressing the flap down upon the pad as the device is drawn across the envelope, and

7 side of the flap during such transit, said base to detaohably hold the presser foot having a rear opening the rear edge of which is at an angle opposite to the slit and provided with a curved upturned flange for directing the moistened flap back onto the envelope to be pressed thereto by the passage of the rear portion of the base.

12. A hand operated envelope 'moistener and sealer comprising an elongated base ada ted to be drawn lon 'itudinall 1 over an inverted envelope, upstanding arms formed at each end of the base, an operating handle connected to the upper ends of the arms, said base having an entrance slit near one end, the rear edge of the slit being depressed to lift the flap, and an outlet opening near the center to permit the flap to pass beneath the base again to be pressed onto the envelope, a moistening pad between the slit and the opening to wet the underside of the flap, and a'presser foot mounted over the pad to press the flap thereto, said presser foot comprising a plate substantially covering the pad and having an outwardly and upwardly curved spring extending to the adjacen handle arm of the base, said spring having a cross head, lugs carried by the said arm and adapted to interlock with the cross head in position over the pad.

13. A hand operated envelope inoistener and sealer comprising a base having a handle mounted thereover, said base having an an gular entrance slit for the flap of the envelope and an oppositely angular exit opening therefor, that portion of the base between the slit and the opening being formed into two tongues having inner free ends, the

first tongue having its front angular edge depressed to engage said flap, a moistening pad mounted on the second tongue for wetting the fiap passing thereover prior to passagedownward and out of the opening.

14. A hand operated envelope inoistener and'sealer comprising a sheet metal base havin longitudinal side flanges, a handle mounted thereover, said base having an angular entrance slit for the flap of the envelope and an oppositely angular exit opening therefor, that portion of the base between the slit and the opening being formed into two tongues having inner free ends, the first tongue having its front angular edge depressed to engage said flap,

a nioistening pad mounted on the second tongue for wetting the flap passing there over prior to passage downward and out of the opening, said pad having an upturned extension adjacent right wall carried by said flange for back ing the pad extension, a water container detachably held to the base and having a Wick contacting with the pad extension for feeding water to the pad, and resiliently mounted on the base to bear on the pad and having an upright wall to hold the 'free end of the wick against the pad extension.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atlixed my signature.

GEORGE THOMAS PRITCHARD.

to the base flange, an up a presser plate til) 

